By Bob Allen A federal judge has ruled that Kentucky officials were wrong to deny tax incentives worth $18 million to a Christian ministry building a theme park featuring a life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark. U.S. District Judge Gregory Van…
Advocates call out candidates for silence on mental health
By Bob Allen An American Baptist leader has joined an initiative to get presidential candidates talking about mental health. Curtis Ramsey-Lucas, director of interfaith engagement at the American Association of People with Disabilities, joined leaders of two other advocacy groups…
The U.S. circus of religious nationalism
If Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa were sitting at a table talking U.S. politics, would Donald Trump fit in? Or would he hijack the conversation to persuade them that he is uniquely qualified to “make America great…
7 types of evangelicals — and how they’ll affect 2016
Like many political axioms, though, it papers over a complex reality. But evangelicals rarely vote as a bloc, especially in the primaries. They disagree not only on the candidates but also on more basic principles like how active Christians should…
Todd Starnes deplores evangelical attacks on Trump
By Bob Allen A Fox News personality who once worked for Baptist Press is taking exception to criticism of presidential candidate Donald Trump by evangelical leaders including the Southern Baptist Convention’s top spokesman for public policy concerns. Todd Starnes, the…
SBC leader joins Rubio advisory board
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist Convention leader has joined the Marco Rubio for President campaign on an advisory board concerning the dignity of human life. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., is among a…
Latino leader: Immigration reform cannot trump the sanctity of life
By Bob Allen The head of one of the nation’s largest Hispanic Christian organizations said Jan. 21 that Latino voters should not put the desire for immigration reform ahead of concern for the unborn. “I have a problem when we…
Trump candidacy will test evangelical voters, says SBC leader
By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention’s top spokesman for public policy and religious liberty concerns says the upcoming presidential primary season will be a test for evangelical voters. “We’ve been saying for 50 years in American life that character…
Cruz stumps at S.C. Baptist school
By Bob Allen Fresh off last week’s televised debate, GOP presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz held a campaign rally Jan. 15 at a college affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. “We need to take power out of Washington and…
Why I will protest a school I love
I am a pastor who loves Jesus. Yet I’m also realizing I’m a pastor who loves comfort, ease, a good reputation, and money almost just as much. These idols cause me to fear writing the words you’re now reading.
Unarmed truth and unconditional love
The year 1964 was a difficult one for the United States. The nation had suffered the assassination of a beloved President in November of the year before. The war in Vietnam was heating up in 1964: the Gulf of Tonkin…
Religious voices respond to State of the Union
(RNS) In his last State of the Union address, President Obama made an impassioned case against religious bigotry and cast other key issues in moral terms. He rejected “any politics that targets people because of race or religion.” “This is…